Epilogue
Riley
Six months later…
Riley Monroe. Intern Paramedic.
I stare at the little plastic card in my hands for what has to be the hundredth time today. A laugh escapes me before I can stop it.
For years I have been dreaming of this moment. During the late nights buried beneath anatomy textbooks and shifts at the hospital, where my feet hurt so much I could barely walk home. Through every exam.
And now someone is finally paying me to do the thing I’ve dreamt of since I wasn’t even old enough to drive. It still doesn’t feel real. I spend half of the day just introducing myself to my new coworkers. By the time I finish my shift and leave the hospital, the sky has already turned orange.
The buzz of my phone snaps me from my thoughts.
Wear something nice.
Zeke is as charming as always trying to be mysterious and distant. But after dating him for six months already, I know better than that, he’s just a softie at his core. Of course, you have to dig really deep to get there, but somehow I got lucky and he let me in.
God, how has it been six months already?
That sounds suspicious.
I type quickly, the smile never leaving my face.
I watch three dots appear on the screen.
Then they disappear again, making me laugh as I imagine Zeke wracking his brain to figure out what to say in order not to sound suspicious.
The three dots appear again, followed by a simple: It isn’t.
Should I be worried?
Always.
I roll my eyes so hard it almost hurts.
Even after all this time, he still enjoys pretending he’s terrifying. But unfortunately for him, I’ve learned he only becomes extra dramatic whenever he’s hiding something. And only if the secret is something he knows I’m going to like.
I stop by my place to change and then drive to his apartment. The doorman greets me with a smile, recognizing me.
“We’ve been expecting you,” he opens the door for me. “Mr. Kavanagh is waiting for you on the rooftop.”
“Of course he is,” I smile back politely and nod.
When the elevator doors slide open at the rooftop, music spills into the evening air.
The first thing I notice are the warm lights hanging above the terrace, glowing like little stars against the darkening sky.
Long tables are filled with food and someone hired an entire jazz band, because apparently playing music through speakers is beneath Ezekiel Kavanagh.
“You’re here!” Mia crashes into me before I can even react, squealing and squeezing every ounce of oxygen out of my lungs. “You did it!”
“I did,” I smile, hugging my friend back.
“You graduated!” She continues, not letting go of me.
“I did,” I repeat, realizing that she’s already a little drunk.
“You officially work at the hospital!”
“I know!” I barely hold back laughter when she pulls away, stumbling, and then grabs onto my arm to maintain balance.
“And it’s a fancy hospital, not that stinky one from your neighborhood!”
“It is!”
Mia proceeds to grab both of my hands, her eyes meeting mine as she speaks. “I’m so freaking proud of you, Riley.”
“Don’t,” I blink quickly.
“Don’t what? I didn’t do anything?” She’s confused.
“Don’t make me cry, please,” As the words leave my lips, I realize my eyes are already watering.
“Too late,” She grins. “But just for your information, I only helped. It’s your boyfriend who went completely insane with all of this.”
That’s when I feel the familiar arms wrap around my waist from behind, followed by the irresistible smell of him.
When we first started dating, I spent weeks trying to figure out what perfume Zeke uses.
I had no luck and he apparently has very good genes that create mutant smells from the most basic lotion he uses.
“Hey you,” He whispers into my ear as I press my back against him.
“So that’s your big secret,” I say, turning around to face him and wrapping my arms around him.
“You like?” He grins, looking around us.
I notice his brothers tucked in one corner, talking over drinks.
Elena is with her new boyfriend, a very kind Mexican guy, at the bar and he’s whispering something into her ear that has her giggling.
Lexi’s back is turned to the party as she watches the sunset.
Even Sofia and some of my other classmates are here.
My heart flutters, unable to believe that this is my reality now.
What a fucking wonderful reality.
“I love,” I smile, climbing on my toes to kiss him.
“There’s more, though,” He clears his throat, raising two fingers up in the most awkward manner, looking around him like he’s waiting for something.
“What?” My eyes go wide, my heart suddenly beating louder. “You’re scaring me.”
The band stops playing and the music immediately changes to a slow, romantic song. The one I’ve been listening to every day in the car after we became official. For a short second, I’m surprised that he remembered.
Of course he did.
He’s Zeke Kavanagh after all, he remembers every little detail if he cares about something. Or in this case, someone.
I watch him as he pulls an elegant, black box from his pocket and gets down on his knees.
“No way!” The words escape me before I can stop them, but I can’t manage to calm myself down.
“Riley Monroe,” he begins, for the first time since I met him, looking incredibly nervous.
Even though I’m sure that people who don’t know him like I do, don’t notice.
“You walked into my life one day and turned it upside down. But you’re the best fucking thing that has ever happened to me and I want to spend the rest of our lives together.
Will you do me the honor of marrying me? ”
“Yes!” I squeal, my hand trembling as he takes it to slide the ring on it. It’s a gorgeous, round, huge diamond, but I can’t take my eyes off Zeke.
He gets up from his knee, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me in for a kiss. Everyone around us is applauding and screaming “Congratulations!”
“Now and in every next lifetime,” I pull away just enough to be able to whisper into his ear.
What follows is a sea of hugs and warm wishes from the people closest to us. Mia is crying a river, and Elena can’t help but tell me how proud she is of me and how far I’ve come after being the girl afraid of love. Lexi has to pull her away and tell her that she’s ruining the moment
When I manage to get away from my over-enthusiastic friends, I spot Zeke standing over next to the bar with Malachi and Elijah. I walk up to them, trying to process the information that these men are going to be my brothers in law now.
“Hello, sis,” Malachi greets me with a smile as Zeke wraps his arm around my shoulders, his fingers brushing against my skin. “Welcome to the family!”
“Thanks, bro,” I smile and he gives me a quick hug.
“Welcome!” Elijah does the same, his face remaining put together as always, but I don’t take it personally. I know he’s not the most expressive person in the world.
“Thank you,” I say, returning back into Zeke’s half-hug.
“So, we’re sure that Nolan has taken over?” They casually continue the conversation that I’ve clearly interrupted but a part of me is glad that they don’t hide these things from me. Even though I’m not involved in their business.
“Yes,” Elijah responds, a hint of worry breaking through his social mask. “And I don’t think he’s going to sit still and not try to finish what his father started.”
“In that case,” Malachi picks his drink up from the counter. “There’s only one thing we can do. We ruin the fucking Devlin family once and for all.”
Zeke and Riley’s story ends in love.
But another Kavanagh brother is about to learn that some women are harder to ruin than they look. And some brides are dangerous enough to tempt even the coldest sinner.